Chair



A. E. JONES April 28, 1942.

CHAIR Filed March 18, 1940 w i w Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PAT 'OFFICE CHAIR Arthur E. Jones, IElkhart,`1nd., assignortofPosture Research Corporation, Elkhart Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application March 18, 1940, ySerial No. 324,586

A5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs and it consists `of the matters hereinafter `desired vertical `position above the seat and `which backrest will remain in the adjusted position Without slippage until readjusted into another position.

Another object of `the `invention is to `provide `a vertical .backrest adjustment structure of .this 4kind wherein the parts vinvolved are so disposed as to be substantially concealed from view, whereby the chair will better harmonize with other furniture with which itis used.

:Again itis an object `of the.` invention to pro vide a backrest adjustment structure of this `kind which isfree from squeaks land other objectional noises when in actual use 4and which is strong and rigid to -resist such tor-sional stresses as may be imposed upon the `backrest `while .in such use so that the backrest will not assume a twisted 5 or Warped position with respect to the asso ciated seat.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as Well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

Inthe drawing:

Fig. 1 isa perspective View cfa backrest.structure embodying the .invention when in .one operative adjusted position with respect-to the seat of the associated chair.

Fig. 2 isa viewin rear elevation ofthe improved backrest structureand `parts of the associated supporting arms or posts, on a scale enlarged over that "of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the central portion of the improved backrest structure on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 2, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is another vertical sectional View through the improved backrest structure as taken .on the line 47-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail sectional View throughapart of the improved backrest structure as taken'von the line .f5--5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, lil indicates -as a whole the seat of an oice type of chair'and II 4indicates a `pair of substantially upstanding, .laterally spaced arms or posts arranged at the rear ofthe seat to support a back rest l2 by means embodying the invention.

The backrest I2 includes .a -main supporting member `I3 in the form of a wooden `backpiece and carriessuitable 4upholstering or padding I4 at the front side thereof.

In the central `bottom portion of the member I3 is a recess in which is located `a sheet :metalicasing I5. This casing iormsa chamber yIt thatopens-through the rear face-and the bottom edge of the backrest. Said casing includes-a front `wall H, a top wall I8 and side Walls I3. The side walls .have bottom'end earsZ that extend laterally outward rin oppoe .site directions to be Vdisposedbeneath the back Vpiece or supporting member I3 for .attachment theretoby screws 2 I.

The top end of theposts I I-I I are operatively connected together by a nut-like `cross Vhead or bar 22 which .has a vertical threaded opening 23 .therein disposed centrally .between said posts. In the present instance the posts Il are Yshown as tubular .and Aas .having recesses in the inner .sides at their top ends to receive the ends of the cross 'head 22 which are 4welded .in .place therein.

A coarse threaded screw .member 24 is operatively engaged in the opening 23 inthe cross head, with its top and `bottom endsnormally disposed rabove and/below said cross head. The top end of the ,posts I I--II and the cross head are disposed in an open `front and bottom casing 25 that Vincludes a rear `wall 2t of a size substantially to close the .open rear side of' the casing I5. The casing 25 also includes side walls 2l, a top wall 26 and a central tongue 29 at its bottom. The casing 25,-whichis of a depth from front to rear lessthan that `of the `casing I5, has 'its side walls disposed "adjacent the .side Walls I9 of the 'casing lland arepivotally connected theretoas'by the Arivetsor'studs 30. The top wall 28 of the casing 25 is disposed above the cross head or bar 22 while the tongue 29 is located below said bar. The top end of the screw 24 is so engaged in the top wall 28 as to be turnable but incapable of a longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The bottom end 24a of said threaded member is reduced in diameter to bear in and extend through an opening in the tongue 29. In the bottom extremity o said end is a cross slot 3| to receive a screw driver or other implement whereby the screw may be turned.

By turning the screw 24 in one direction or the other, it is threaded through the opening 23 in the cross head. As the casing 25 will move with the screw, due to its connection therewith as before described and as the backrest I2 is attached to said casing 25 as before described, it is apparent that the backrest will move upwardly and downwardly therewith. Thus by turning thescrew 24, the backrest may be adjusted into the desired vertical position with respect to the seat. By reason of the pivotal connection 3 lbetween the casing members l5 and 25 respectively, the backrest may rock to a limited extent under a leaning back pressure by the occupant of the chair. Should it be desired to inspect the condition of the parts within the casing 25, the backrest may be swung upwardly from the iront, about the studs 3!)` as an axis into a horizontal position. This `exposes the parts in said casing 25 to view.

As the cross head or bar 22 is rlxed rigidly to the arms Il and as a considerable portion of the screw 24 is engaged in said opening 23 in said cross head or bar, the bar 22 and the casing 25 can move relatively only in the direction of the length of the screw.

By reason of the engagement of the screw in the cross head, it is apparent that the chair as a whole may be lifted up by the backrest without causing a change in the adjusted position of said backrest.

When the backrest is in its normal vertical position with respect to the posts I I, nothing except the screw end 24a is apparent to indicate the adjustable nature of the backrest.

The parts are few in' number and may be readily assembled so that the adjustable backrest adds but slightly to the cost of the chair of which it forms a part. There are no parts to squeak or rattle, even after a long period of use.

The backrest may be readily adjusted by any one with the aid of a screw driver.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specically pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. A chair embodying therein a substantially upright backrest supporting means comprising laterally spaced supporting members, a member i ment in the threaded hole in said 'connecting member and operatively secured in the top and bottom portions of said casing so as to be turnable but not longitudinally movable with respect to casing, said screw having a part disposed bebelow said bottom portion of the casing and formed for manipulation in turning said screw in one direction or the other.

2. A chair embodying therein a backrest provided with an open recess, a support secured at its lower end to the chair seat, with its upper end projecting into the recess, a pivoted closure for the recess carried by the support at its upper end, said closure having a flange at its top tting within the recess and a tongue at its bottom, a screw swiveled at its upper end in the closure liange and its lower end rotatably mounted in the tongue, a nut secured to the support and with respect to which the screw is movable up and down, said nut having a threaded opening to receive the screw whereby upon rotation of the screw the nut will traverse the screw and the back be adjusted. l

3. A chair embodying therein a backrest'having a recess that opens through the bottom thereof, open bottom means mounted in said recess for a limited rocking movement about a horizontal axis, arranged longitudinally of the backrest, a support for the backrest and having its upper end disposed in operative relation with respect to said means, a nut-like member carried by said upper end of said support, and a screw having a. threaded engagement intermediate its ends with said nut-like -member and also having a swiveled connection with said means.

4. A chair embodying therein va backrest having a recess that opens through the bottom and the back thereof, open bottom means mounted in said recess for a limited rocking movement about a horizontal axis arranged longitudinally of the backrestl and substantially closing the open back of the recess, a support for the backrest and having its upper end disposed in operative relation with respect to said means, a nut-like member carried by said upper end of the support, and a screw having a threaded engagement intermediate its ends with said nut-like member and also having a swiveled connection with said means.

5. A chair embodying therein a backrest having a recess that opens through the bottom and thc back thereof, an open bottom means mounted in said recess for a limited rocking movement about a horizontal axis arranged longitudinally of the backrest and substantially closing the open back of said recess, a support for said backrest and including laterally spaced, generally upright members having their upper ends disposed in said means, a nut-like member connecting said upper ends of said generally upright members, and a screw having a threadedengagement intermediate its ends with said nut-like member and also having a swiveled connection with said means.

AR'IHUR Ei. JONES. 

